June 2009 Archives

Forget Gordon Brown and his dismal D-Day photo-op: there's a far better celebration taking place at Meriden's historic Bulls Head pub.

Landlord John Smedley has laid on the commemorative Liberation Ale to mark the 65th anniversary of the Normandy invasion - and is offering a free bottle to any ex-service personnel from that campaign who turn up from 22 June onwards.

He told our sister newspaper the Solihull Times: "The D-Day veterans are very special people and we would like to acknowledge their bravery by giving something back."

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is marking the release today of a new edition of its popular Good Beer Guide Belgium with a competition to win a weekend trip to Brussels .

Author Tim Webb catalogues the various beer styles and Belgian brewers, and suggests places to drink the best beers, as well as offering quirky trivia about the industry.

He said; "The Belgians make the finest, most enjoyable and extraordinary beers on Earth - the fact that they don't realise it is a bonus. It's great to be a tourist with a weapon that puts you ahead of the locals."

CAMRA has joined forces with Eurolines for a tie-in competition, offering coach travel and accommodation in Brussels for the lucky winner and a companion. Cave Direct, sponsor of the new edition, has also offered cases of Belgian beers as the 10 runners-up prizes. You can enter online here.

Good Beer Guide Belgium is available from all major booksellers and the CAMRA shop, priced £14.99 (there's a £2.00 discount for CAMRA members).

CAMRA's Heart of Staffordshire branch has been invited to create its own beer this weekend by Shugborough's Titanic Brewery.

The results of members' labours will be unveiled at their second beer festival, being held 25- 27 June at Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre.

For further information, check out their website.